Definition, Framework and Indicators

Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment by Anne Marie Golla, Anju Malhotra, Priya Nanda, and Rekha Mehra Definition, Framework and Indicators 2 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment

Anne Marie Golla/ICRW

Acknowledgments

ICRW gratefully acknowledges the Department of International Development (DFID), the ExxonMobil Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their generous support of this work.

Cover photos: David Snyder/ICRW Design: Barbieri and Green

© 2011 International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Portions of this document may be reproduced without express permission from but with acknowledgment to ICRW. Definition, Framework and Indicators 3

I. Introduction As interest in fostering women’s economic The concepts presented here are meant to empowerment grows, two questions arise. help practitioners, researchers and donors There is increasing recognition that eco- 1. How is women’s economic empowerment design effective, measurable interventions to nomically empowering women is essential defined? What does the term women’s advance women economically. In develop- both to realize women’s rights and to economic empowerment encompass? ing these concepts, we have drawn both on achieve broader development goals such as 2. How can women’s economic empower- the available literature and on ICRW’s direct economic growth, poverty reduction, health, ment be measured and evaluated so experience in evaluating women’s economic education and welfare. In the last five years, organizations can show they are on the empowerment programs. This document is in- a broad range of organizations have com- right track to achieving it? tended as a conceptual guide, rather than an mitted themselves to the goal of women’s operational tool kit. Economic empowerment economic empowerment. These organiza- Answers to these questions are essential to is a complex process, and the general frame- tions realize that economically empowering design meaningful strategies that will lead work presented here will have to be adapted women is a win-win that can benefit not to women’s economic empowerment. This to meet the needs of specific projects. only women, but society more broadly. It document addresses them by presenting: promotes women’s ability to achieve their 1. A definition of women’s economic empow- rights and well-being while also reducing erment; household poverty, increasing economic 2. A measurement framework that can growth and productivity, and increasing guide the design, implementation and efficiency. evaluation of programs to economically empower women; and Research has found strong reasons to em- 3. A set of illustrative indicators that can phasize women’s economic empowerment in serve as concrete examples for developing development programs: meaningful metrics for success. • Economic empowerment is one of the most powerful routes for women to achieve their potential and advance their rights. • Since women make up the majority of the world’s poor, meeting poverty-reduction goals requires addressing women and their economic empowerment. • Discrimination against women is economi- cally inefficient. National economies lose out when a substantial part of the population cannot compete equitably or realize its full potential. • Working with women makes good busi- ness sense. When women have the right skills and opportunities, they can help businesses and markets grow. • Women who are economically empowered contribute more to their families, societies and national economies. It has been shown that women invest extra income in their children, providing a route to sustain- able development. Brian Heilman/ICRW 4 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment

II. Defining Women’s Economic III. Addressing Women’s Norms and Institutions are the “rules of Empowerment Economic Empowerment the game” or the organizational and social systems that govern activities and medi- Definition: A woman is economically To achieve women’s economic empower- ate relations between individuals and their empowered when she has both the ability ment, organizations must address the social and economic environment. Norms to succeed and advance economically underlying factors that contribute to it: and institutions influence how resources are and the power to make and act on individual and community resources, and distributed and used. economic decisions. norms and institutions. • Norms include gender defined roles, •o T succeed and advance economically, taboos, prohibitions and expectations women need the skills and resources to Resources are the building blocks women such as whether or not it is appropriate compete in markets, as well as fair and can draw on to succeed economically or for women to be in public spaces, hold equal access to economic institutions. to exercise power and agency. Resources certain types of jobs, or manage money. • To have the power and agency to can be at the individual or community level. • Institutions include legal and policy benefit from economic activities, women They are more than financial or monetary in structures, economic systems, market need to have the ability to make and nature, and include: structures, marriage, inheritance and act on decisions and control resources • Human capital (e.g., education, education systems. and profits. skills, training) • Financial capital (e.g., loans, savings) As Figure 1 illustrates, economic empow- • Social capital (e.g., networks, mentors) erment is comprised of two inter-related • Physical capital (e.g., land, machinery) components: 1) economic advancement and 2) power and agency. Both components are connected, and both are necessary to achieve better lives for women and their families. Economic gain and success (economic advancement) promote women’s hare resourc power and agency. At the same time, nd s es l a d make cho ® when a woman is able to control and share tro e an ic n fin es in resource use (power) and to define and co de ® Y

make choices (agency), she is better able to C advance economically. N T E

G N A WOMEN’S E M D

E N ECONOMIC C

A EMPOWERMENT N

R A

E V D

W A

O

P IC ® M

e ss O c® onomic succe ON e EC conomic gain

Anne Marie Golla/ICRW

Figure 1: Women’s Economic Empowerment: Two Necessary, Inter-related Components Definition, Framework and Indicators 5

Projects may approach economic empow- In addition, economic empowerment can be erment is seen as a complex, multilayered erment by working either to enhance the addressed at different levels. For example, pie, programs should “choose their slice.” resources available to women or to redefine projects may work at the individual, house- That is to say, they should concentrate norms and institutions. Furthermore, projects hold or organization level, or at the level of efforts on where they can make the most may work toward advancing women economi- communities or social networks. difference given their resources, timeframe, cally or building women’s power and agency. local conditions, and also consider what These different paths to addressing women’s The specific factors that signal progress other organizations are doing.

110613 ICRWeconomic Folder empowerment graphics B G Y:11-0 are illustrated 10/5/11 12:09 in PM Pagetoward 2 women’s economic empowerment Figure 2. For example, a microcredit program may be different in different contexts. They Even though most programs take on their that provides loans to women works primarily may even change over time, as countries specific slice of the pie, framing their work to increase women’s economic advance- or regions become more developed. Figure within a broader framework of economic em- ment through resources. A literacy or life 2 provides examples of how some projects powerment is essential. Understanding the skills program primarily increases women’s would fit within the framework. wider opportunities and challenges women personal resources in order to increase their face in the specific context of the project is power and agency. While both projects work No single program can address all of the important in order to: to increase women’s economic empower- factors that contribute to women’s economic • Determine where resources are best spent ment, they do so along different pathways. empowerment. Rather, if economic empow- to meet goals; • Design the best intervention; • Identify areas outside of the project focus that may help or hinder its success; and • Define clearly what the program will PROJECT EXAMPLE Literacy Training and will not change, and where change provides a personal outside of the project is necessary for the resource that boosts project to succeed. CES women’s agency. UR SO E R POW ER A N D A PROJECT EXAMPLE G Community Campaigns E N change social institutions

E WOMEN’S C (norms) that present barriers C

Y O ECONOMIC to women’s agency. PROJECT EXAMPLE N EMPOWERMENT Microcredit O M removes constraints to I financial resources that C may allow women to A D S advance economically. V AN N C IO EM T ENT U IT ST IN PROJECT EXAMPLE ND Market Based Approaches S A change how market actors NORM and institutions treat women and allow for their economic advancement.

Figure 2: Contributors to Women’s Economic Empowerment Addressing Resources, Institutions and Norms 6 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment

IV. Measuring Women’s power and agency, many projects do not seek The framework emphasizes the importance Economic Empowerment to achieve change in both areas. This means of not focusing exclusively on impact indica- that individual projects may focus measure- tors in developing monitoring and evaluation As illustrated in Figure 2, women’s economic ment more on one component than the other (M&E) plans. It is equally important to priori- 110613 ICRW Folder graphics B G Y:11-0 10/7/11 9:06 AM Page 3 empowerment has many dimensions and is or may not measure both components. tize the measurement of process, output and specific to the context under consideration. outcome indicators, such as women’s par- Projects address economic empowerment Figure 3 presents a matrix for measuring ticipation in the project and which women through different pathways. The indicators women’s economic empowerment, which participated. All projects should measure suitable for one area or program may not uses sample indicators to show different basic process outputs and outcomes. be relevant elsewhere. No universal set of stages at which results can be measured. These indicators can provide initial assess- indictors is appropriate for every project, in These stages range from project outputs ments of whether a project is on the right every sector and in every context. and immediate outcomes to intermediate track and whether it is engaging women as and longer term impacts. Determining intended. They are usually more straightfor- Rather, measurement should align with the which stage to measure depends on what ward to measure than indicators of deeper “slice” of women’s economic empower- is feasible to measure given the project’s or longer-term impact. Not all indicators can ment that a particular program chooses resources, expected impact and timeframe. or should be measured at the highest level. to address. For evaluation purposes, a As the matrix shows, agency/power and Often, it is not realistic to expect to be project should measure only what it economic advancement can be measured able to measure the deepest, long-term will reasonably change. While effectively separately. Both quantitative and qualitative impact within the project’s time frame. measuring women’s economic empowerment methods are appropriate for measurement, requires considering indicators of both wom- depending on what type of information is en’s economic advancement and women’s needed and feasible to collect.

POWER AND AGENCY

OUTPUT OUTCOME OUTCOME IMPACT IMPACT

Increased self- Increased Women's Increased Increased efficacy, ability control of participation in bargaining financial to make household activities power independence decisions resources

New skills, Women's changes in Access to new Increased Improved participation in business markets profit livelihood activities practice

OUTPUT OUTCOME OUTCOME IMPACT IMPACT

ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

Figure 3: A Framework to Measure Women’s Economic Empowerment Definition, Framework and Indicators 7

V. Illustrative Indicators Our experience shows that most interven- tions are trying to achieve success on Women’s economic empowerment is a these measures at either the individual and multifaceted concept. Given how project- household level, or at the community and and context-specific its measurement must institutional level. Therefore, we provide be, it is not possible to define a universal illustrative indicators for both these levels. set of indicators suitable for every project. However, we can provide an illustrative set of indicators in three key areas emphasized in the framework depicted in Figure 3:

1. Reach and Process Indicators 2. Economic Advancement Indicators 3. Agency or Power Indicators

Jeannie Bunton/ICRW Reach and Process Indicators

Indicator/Question

Participation Number of women and men who participated in different activities

What barriers kept women from participating?

How were participants selected? Did the selection process itself exclude any kinds of women (or other kinds of groups)?

Number of those selected who did/did not participate.

Number of women who started activities and then dropped out. What are the reasons given for dropping out?

Which women are participating and which aren’t?

Issues faced How did the community respond to the activities? To women’s participation? by women What are women’s families’ reactions to the project?

Success Could women effectively implement project activities? (e.g. for a training, could they understand the training materials? For business activities, could they adopt suggested changes in business practice?)

Were women successful in the activity? (e.g. For a training, did they master the material? For a new technology, did they adopt it?)

Unintended Did the project have any positive outcomes that were not expected? outcomes Beyond the project participants, is there evidence that others benefitted indirectly or unexpectedly from the project?

What negative unintended outcomes have project teams observed?

Was anyone worse off because of the project, whether they participated or not?

Has there been any sort of participant or community backlash? Of what nature? 8 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment

Power and Agency Indicators

Individual/Household Level Community/Institution Level

Control over Women’s ownership of productive assets Laws that protect women’s property rights assets (land, animals, machinery) Women have their own source of income Existing laws are enforced at the community level

Share of household income provided by women Women represented as owners of larger businesses and in business leadership

Women have control over how to spend some cash Use of community resources in ways that benefit women or savings (pumps, clinics, schools, etc.)

Agency/ Proportion of women’s income spent on herself Women’s participation in community groups/ Decision-making and children associations/networks Women’s involvement in major household decisions, Women’s involvement in community decision-making i.e. large purchases (car, house, household appliance), agricultural decisions

Women’s access to information and technology Women have leadership roles in the community

Autonomy and Women’s ability to visit friends, family, associates Rates of abuse, assault, harassment against women in Mobility public spaces Women’s ability to use public transportation/travel freely in public spaces

Women’s use of media, phone, technology

Self-confidence/ Psychological wellbeing Community valuing of women’s entitlement and inclusion Self-efficacy Attitudes on own self-esteem

Articulateness and confidence in speaking with authorities

Gender Norms Ability to negotiate sexual and reproductive decisions Shifts in marriage and kinship systems Attitudes on women and work Community acceptance of women working

Attitudes on women and mobility Community attitudes on women’s sexual and reproductive roles women and work

Attitudes on women and violence Community attitudes on women and violence

Gender Roles/ Number of hours spent in housework Sex-disaggregated employment rates by sector Responsibilities Gender segregation of male and female work, ability to Community attitudes on what work women should do enter profitable jobs

Equity of domestic duty load Definition, Framework and Indicators 9

Economic Advancement Indicators

Individual/Household Level Community/Institution Level

Productivity Individual educational attainment Education available to and attained by girls and women and Skills Business and work skills Adult learning opportunities available

Access to productive tools and technologies Free entry to markets for buyers and sellers

Access to markets (as buyers and sellers) Access to new technologies

Access to jobs

Business Keeps records Employment practices Practice Separates personal and business expenses Barriers to entry to key jobs and markets

Diversity of product line Workplace policies

Marketing – takes advantage of market opportunities; is Earnings/growth at a firm or sector level not dependent on one or irregular buyers or suppliers Women as share of certain jobs

Invests in business

Income Levels of income and revenue Community resources and what percent are spent Earnings, profits on women

Has individual and household savings

Has a safe place to save

Consumption Has savings, insurance, or liquid assets Community has safe places to save smoothing/risk Does not experience seasonal hunger Formal or informal social safety nets

Did not sell productive assets

Work Work site is safely accessible for women environment Work site has separate toilet facility for women Labor laws exist and are enforced

Work hours, conditions, and remuneration meet interna- Wage inequality tional labor standards

Prosperity Individual and family wealth Economic status of women in community

Housing, property, assets Women’s share of assets, business ownership

Better health and nutrition Health and nutrition indices 10 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment

David Snyder/ICRW

ICRW currently advises a number of organi- • Personal Advancement and Career • Framework for Women’s Economic zations on how to integrate these concepts Enhancement (P.A.C.E.): This program Empowerment in South and Southeast of women’s economic empowerment into was launched by Gap Inc. in partnership Asia: In this partnership with the U.K. their program and evaluation efforts. with several of its Asian sourcing com- Department for International Development panies, ICRW and Swasti, an India-based (DFID), ICRW developed a framework for Specific projects that have informed the nonprofit organization. P.A.C.E. aims to economic empowerment and tested how concepts in this document include: advance the personal and professional it fit existing projects in India, Bangladesh, lives of female garment workers. ICRW Nepal, Cambodia and Laos. • Results Based Initiatives (RBIs): This has provided strategic guidance on pro- is a four-year program to economically gram design and rollout, and undertaken For more information about ICRW’s work and empower women, commissioned by the evaluation activities in India, Cambodia how to partner with us, visit our website at World Bank as part of its Gender Action and Vietnam. www.icrw.org. Plan (GAP) in partnership with ICRW and UNIFEM. ICRW worked on the evaluation • Women’s Economic Opportunity Initia- of five RBIs aimed at economically em- tive (WEOI): ExxonMobil’s signature powering women in Peru, Egypt, Liberia, initiative, is aimed at advancing women Kenya, Laos and Cambodia. economically, especially by mobilizing technology, across a range of countries. ICRW has provided strategic guidance and evaluation expertise. Definition, Framework and Indicators

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